Romans 8:4

So that the (righteousness and just) requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not live our lives in the ways of the flesh (guided by worldliness and sinful nature), but (live our lives) in the ways of the Spirit (guided by His power).

Listening to and being guided by the Holy Spirit is the best way to avoid sin’s pitfalls and defeat the obstacles.  The flesh will talk to us and try to take us down the wrong path, but we don’t have to listen.  The Holy Spirit is our helper as we turn away from the flesh and let ourselves be guided by the Spirit.

Luke 10:41-42

But the Lord replied to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part (that which is to her advantage), which will not be taken from her.  

Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to the word.  Martha is working, worried and anxious, and not listening to the word coming from Jesus.  The word of Jesus takes away our fears and anxieties, had Martha put aside her troubles and listened to Jesus, her burdens could have easily been lifted.  Our circumstances can change when we make better choices.

Romans 1:7

(I am writing) to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called to be saints (God’s people) and set apart for a sanctified life, (that is set apart for God and His purpose): Grace to you and peace (inner calm and spiritual well-being) from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  

God wants us to be calm on the inside to be productive for Him on the outside.  We are God’s people set apart and sanctified for His purpose on earth.  The stronger the foundation that we build on the word of God, the more stable we will be.  No matter the storm out foundation in God’s word should mean we are operating if faith and peace.

John 4:14

But whoever drinks the water that I give him will never be thirsty again.  But the water that I give him will become in him a spring of water (satisfying his thirst for God) welling up (continually flowing, bubbling within him) to eternal life.  

Have you ever talked to someone who doesn’t know Jesus, and they feel dissatisfied on the inside and don’t know why?  They don’t understand the soul and its connection to God.  They may seek to find what they are missing in many ways but always seem to come up short.  The only thing that will ever satisfy is the living waters of Jesus.

Luke 5:31

And Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician but (only) those who are sick.”

Most times, we don’t take stock of our lives until something happens.  Those who believe in Jesus should take stock of their spirituality regularly.  Those who are in sin don’t usually see a problem until their sin causes issues for them.  Repentance is like an awakening to missing the mark laid out in the Bible and seeking the healer to bring them back to righteousness.  

Luke 5:15-16

But the news about Him was spreading farther, and large crowds kept gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their illnesses. But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray (in seclusion).

The news about Jesus is spreading, and His ministry is growing, and He finds time to pray alone out in the wilderness.  Jesus pulled away from all of the demands of Him to center Himself and get direction from God. In many ways, we have to learn how to take time to follow God for us to lead in this life.  

Matthew 18: 33-35

Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave (who owed you little by comparison), as I had mercy on you?  And in wrath his master turned him over to the torturers (jailers) until he paid all he owed.  My heavenly Father will also do the same to (everyone of) you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from the heart.

As this world turns away from God, the opportunity for offense and strife will increase.  We must come up with a plan for our reaction when the offense comes.  God forgave us of our sins, and we are to forgive.  It doesn’t say what happened was right. It just releases us from the possibility of the sin of unforgiveness.  

Matthew 10:27

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

If we don’t understand heaven and hell, we have no fear of the consequences of sin on the earth because this life is all there is.  What we believe affects our viewpoint on eternity and what we value while here on earth, whether pleasing God or man.  Hell is not a place anyone who has understanding wants to go.  

Ecclesiastes 4:6

One hand full of rest and patience is better than two fists full of labor and chasing after the wind. 

When we learn patience and being able to be patient, we will gain peace in our lives.  The ability to wait on God’s timing and provision with confidence is a faith step.  It takes practice and being willing to submit to God’s timing and not our own.  It also takes some practice in our world where we can have it all now.  The timing of God will always be a perfect time if we can be patient.  

Hebrews 4:3

For we who believe (that is, we who personally trust and confidently rely on God) enter that rest (so we have His inner peace now because we are confident in our salvation, and assured of His power), just as He has said.  

God never meant for us to create our answers to problems using worry and fear. Anxiety and fear never solved a problem or made the answer come sooner.  God meant for us to rest in peace by knowing His power to work on our behalf.   We are to find the answer in the word, pray and believe God for the answer.  Our rest comes from our confidence in God.